MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS TO START THE

NURSE PRACTITIONER (NP) IN CRITICAL CARE POSTGRADUATE

RESIDENCY PROGRAM

Program description
The Nurse Practitioner program in Critical Care is a residency program with a main
focus on competency-based training. The duration is of two years with the curriculum
consisting of theory that includes core courses, advanced practice courses and clinical courses
besides clinical practicum, which is a major component.

Aim
The program prepares registered BSc nurses for advanced practice roles as clinical
experts, managers, educators and consultants leading to MSc Degree in critical care Nurse
Practitioner.

Objectives
On completion of the program, the NP will be able to:

1. Assume responsibility and accountability to provide competent care to critically ill patients
and appropriate family care in tertiary care centres
2. Demonstrate clinical competence / expertise in providing critical care which includes
diagnostic reasoning, complex monitoring and therapies
3. Apply theoretical, patho-physiological and pharmacological principles and evidence base
in implementing therapies / interventions in critical care
4. Identify the critical conditions using differential diagnosis and carry out
treatment/interventions to stabilize and restore patient’s health and minimize or manage
complications independently or collaboratively as a part of critical care team
5. Collaborate with other health care professionals in the critical care team, across the
continuum of critical care.
Minimum requirements and guidelines for starting Nurse practitioner in Critical
Care postgraduate residency program
The institution wishing to start NP program must accept the accountability for the program and its
students and offer the program congruent with the INC standards. It must fulfill the following
requirements.

Essentiality Certificate

NOC (No objection Certificate/ Essentiality Certificate from State Government will
exempted for the following organization:-
1. Institute already has BSc (N) or MSc (N) program recognized by INC.
2. If they have DNB program, NOC will not be required

Clinical Facilities
Hospital
The hospital should be a parent tertiary care centre, with a minimum of 200 beds.

ICU Beds
The hospital should have a minimum of 4 ICUs namely medical ICU, surgical ICU,
cardio/cardiothoracic ICU and Emergency care unit with a minimumof 5 beds each and total of 20
beds (adult and pediatric beds).

ICU staffing in clinical area

1. Every ICU should have a charge nurse with BSc or MSc qualification.
2. The nurse patient ratio should be 1:1 for every shift for ventilated patients.
3. For the rest of ICU beds the nurse patient ratio should be 1:2 for every shift.
4. Provision of additional 45% staff towards leave reserve.
5. Doctor patient ratio can be 1:5.
Faculty/Staff resources
1. Clinical area: Full time qualified GNM with 6 years of experience in critical care nursing or B.Sc
with 2 years’ experience in critical care nursing or M.Sc with medical Surgical Specialty with on
one year critical care nursing experience (One faculty for every 10 students).
2. Teaching Faculty: Professor/Associate professor- 1(Teaching experience- 5Years post PG),
Assistant professor- 1 (Teaching experience- 3 years post BSc).
3. The above faculty shall perform dual role or a senior nurse with MSc.(N)Qualification employed in
the tertiary hospital.
4. Preceptor student ratio- Nurses 1:10, Doctors 1:10.

Physical and learning resources at hospital/college

1. One classroom/conference room at the clinical area
2. Skill lab for simulated learning (hospital/college)
3. Library and computer facilities with access to online journals.
4. E- Learning Facilities.

Student Recruitment/Admission Requirements

1. Applicants must possess a registered B.Sc.nurse with a minimum of one year clinical
experience, preferably in any critical care setting prior to enrollment.
2. Must have undergone the BSC in an institution recognized by the Indian Nursing Council.
3. Must have scored not less than 55% aggregate marks in the BSc program
4. Selection must be based on the merit of an entrance examination and interview held by the
competent authority

(Refer Syllabus for List of equipment for ICU, log book, clinical requirements, and
standing orders)
Affidavit to be filled and signed by the concerned/competent authority for
assuming accountability for the program and standing orders for NPs to practice

Affidavit

We/I the undersigned represent --------------------------------------------------------(Institution/Hospital).

The institution accepts accountability for running the Nurse Practitioner in Critical Care
Postgraduate Residency Program and its students and offers the program congruent with the INC
standards.

The proposed NP program requires the students to be trained to independently/collaboratively

administer drugs and order diagnostic tests, procedures, medical equipment and therapies as per
institutional protocol/standing orders.

On completion of the NP program they are qualified to assume responsibility and accountability for the
care of critically ill patients. They collaborate with Intensivists, physicians, surgeons and specialists to
ensure accurate therapy for patients with high acuity needs. NPs will be permitted to administer drugs
listed in standing orders as per the institutional protocols/standing orders (Refer standing orders found
in INC syllabus of the NP program). They will also be permitted to order diagnostic tests/procedures
and therapies.

Additional list of drugs/therapies/diagnostic tests could be added as per institutional standing orders.

Signature of the competent authority

Designation:

Name of the institution:

Date:
INC WEBSITE

Nurse Practitioner Education in India is a growing trend. Indian Nursing Council has prepared
the curriculum for Nurse practitioner in critical care postgraduate residency program, the first of its kind
in India. With the approval of the MOHFW, the program is ready for implementation.